Self-adhesive insulating composition

ABSTRACT

A self-adhesive insulating tape excellent in electrical properties and weather resistance can be prepared by shaping into a sheet a novel composition comprising (A) an ethylene-propylenediene terpolymer, (B) an ethylene-propylene copolymer, (C) a tackifier selected from the group consisting of low molecular weight polyisobutylenes, terpene resins, coumarone-indene resins and novolak type phenol resins, (D) an inorganic filler and (E) a vulcanizing agent capable of vulcanizing only the ethylenepropylene-diene terpolymer in this composition, vulcanizing the sheet and then cutting it to a given width. Said self-adhesive insulating tape is extremely suitable for forming insulating layers in connecting high voltage cables or in treating terminals.

United States atent 1 1 Shirato et al.

1 1 .3,7-25,330 1 1 Apr. 3, 1973 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 2, 1969 Japan ..44/89160 [52] U.S. Cl. ..260/33.6 AQ, 156/334, 260/38, 260/41.5 R, 260/41.5 A, 260/889, 260/897 A [51] Int. c1....-.....c0sc 11/22, C08d 9/08, C08d 9/12 [58] Field of Search ...260/889, 33.6 AQ, 38, 41.5 R, 260/4l.5 A; 156/334 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,539,525 1/l972 Raimondi ..260/897 A 3,470,127 9/1969 Snell et al ..260/889 3,378,512 4/1968 Harned et al. .....260/889 Bickel et al Bickel et al OTHER PUBLICATIONS Skeist-Handbook of Adhesives (Reinhold, N.Y., 1962), page 228, TP. 968 S5.

Skeist-Handbook of Adhesives (Reinhold, N.Y., I

1962), p ges 188-190, 586-587. TP. 968 S5. Morton-Introduction to Rubber Technology (Reinhold, N.Y., 1959), page 2. TS 1890 M66.

Primary Examiner-Allan Lieberman Assistant Examiner-H. H. Fletcher Attorney-Craig, Antonelli and Hill [57] ABSTRACT A self-adhesive insulating tape excellent in electrical properties and weather resistance can be prepared by shaping into a sheet a novel composition comprising (A) an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, (B) an ethylene-propylene copolymer, (C) a tackifier selected from the group consisting of low molecular weight polyisobutylenes, terpene resins, coumaroneindene resins and 'novolak type phenol resins, (D) an inorganic filler and (E) a vulcanizing agent capable of vulcanizing only the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer in this composition, vulcanizing the sheet and then cutting it to a given width. Said self-adhesive insulating tape is extremely suitable for forming insulating layers in connecting high voltage cables or in treating terminals.

34 Claims, No Drawings SELF-ADHESIVE INSULATING COMPOSITION This invention relates to an improvement of an insulating composition for selfiadhesive tapes used for forming insulating layers chiefly in connecting high voltage cables or in treating terminals. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a self-adhesive insulating composition excellent in electrical properties and weather resistance and composed mainly of an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.

Heretofore, self-adhesive insulating tapes have extensively been used for the purpose of forming insulating layers in connecting electric wires or cables or in treating terminals. These tapes of the prior art are prepared by shaping into the form of tapes a composition comprising butyl rubber as the main ingredient, a polyisobutylene, a hydrocarbon plasticizer and a vulcanizing agent, followed by vulcanization, and have such characteristic that when wound around substrates, they cause cold flow to self-adhere into one body. Such conventional self-adhesive insulating tapes are not only high in insulation resistance but also relatively high in breakdown voltage, and hence have frequently been used for forming insulators for low voltage electric wires or cables. On the other hand, however, they are low in resistance to weather and tracking and have such drawbacks that when used for high voltage wires or cables, they are damaged at an early stage. Moreover, the electric properties thereof, such as breakdown voltage, dielectric constant, dielectric loss tangent, etc., are also not sufficient for application to high voltage electric wires or cables.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel insulating composition composed mainly of an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer and suitable for a self-adhesive tape improved in weather resistance, tracking resistanceand other electric properties and thus successfully usable for forming insulating layers in connecting high voltage electric wires or cables or in treating terminals.

The composition of the present invention comprises (A) 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-propylenediene terpolymer, (B) 50 100 parts by weight of an aolefin polymer selected from ethylene-propylene copolymers and high molecular weight polyisobutylenes, (C) 80 parts by weight of a tackifier selected from low molecular weight polyisobutylenes, terpene resins, coumarone-indene resins and novolak type phenol resins, (D) 50 200 parts by weight of an inorganic filler and (E) l 20 parts by weight of a vulcanizing agent capable of vulcanizing only the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer in this composition. By shaping this composition into a sheet, and vulcanizing and cutting the sheet to a given width according to an ordinary procedure, there is obtained a selfadhesive insulating tape excellent in electrical properties including weather resistance and tracking resistance.

The ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, which is the main constituent of the present composition, is composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylene propylene molar ratio of 80 20 20 80 and 0.5 10 mole percent, based on the total amount of said ethylene and propylene, of a diene component. Examples of such diene component include dicyclopentadiene, ethylidenenorbornene, hexadiene-l ,4 cyclooctadiene-l,5 and cyclooctadiene-l ,4. The ethylenepropylene-diene terpolymer used in the present invention is required to have a Mooney viscosity (ML 100C.) of 20 120. If the molar ratio of ethylene to propylene is outside the above-mentioned range or the Mooney viscosity is more than 120, the hardness of the composition becomes excessively high, while if the Mooney viscosity is less than 20, the composition is undesirably deteriorated in mechanical and electrical properties. An ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer containing ethylene and propylene in an ethylene propylene molar ratio of 40 60 or more is particularly excellent in electrical properties and is preferable for use in the present invention.

Examples of commercially available ethylenepropylene-diene terpolymers, which are usable in the present invention, are EPT No. 1045 (trade name of Mitsui Petrochemical Co.), Nordel No. 1040 (trade name of Du Pont, U.S.A.), Royalene No. 301 and Royalene No 501 (trade names of Uniroyal Co., U.S.A.) and Vistaron 2504 (trade name of Esso Standard Co., U.S.A.).

The ethylene-propylene copolymer used in the present invention has an ethylene propylene molar ratio of 60 40 40 60 and a Mooney viscosity (ML 100C.) of 20 120, and the high molecular weight polyisobutylene has a molecular weight of 50,000 110,000. Either of them is blended in an amount of 50 150 parts, preferably 1 l0 parts, by weight per parts by weight of the ethylenepropylene-die'ne,terpolymer. if the ethylene propylene ratio of the ethylene-propylene copolymer is outside theabove-mentioned range, the hardness of the composition becomes so high as to be undesired. Each of these a-olefin polymers has such an action that when the composition is vulcanized, the said polymer uniformly disperses in the'meshes of the molecules of vulcanized ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer to impart proper-plasticity and tackiness to the composition. Accordingly, if the amount of said polymer blended is excessively small, the composition becomes low in ratio of unvulcanized portion to vulcanized portion and becomes poor in plasticity and tackiness. Conversely, if

the amount of said polymer blended is excessively large, the composition is increased in plasticity and tackiness but becomes low in elasticity and mechanical strength.

Examples of the tackifier used in the present invention include polyisobutylenes having an average molecular weight of 300 10,000, terpene resins having an average molecular weight of 300 3,000, coumarone indene resins having an average molecular weight of 400 1,200, and novolak type phenol resins having an average molecular weight of 200 1,300. These tackifiers further supplement the tackiness imparted by the a-olefin polymers. Among these,

polyisobutylenes and terpene resins less affect the electrical properties of the composition and hence are particularly preferable. These tackifiers are used, according to the uses of the resulting compositions, in amounts of 10 80 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer. In.

case a novolak type phenol resin having a molecular weight of 800 or more is used alone, the resulting composition becomes somewhat hard. Accordingly, if a soft resin is desired to be obtained, it is desirable that the novolak type resin is used in a relatively small amount, or in combination with other tackifiers.

The inorganic filler used in the present invention has such actions as to facilitate the operation of shaping a tape from the composition and prevent the tape from shrinkage during vulcanization, and display such an effect as to increase the mechanical strength of the tape. Examples of inorganic fillers preferable for use in the present invention include platy talc, calcined clay, dixie clay and calcium carbonate having an average particle diameter of 0.5 50 if the amount of the filler therefor blended is less than 50 parts by weight, the effect of shrinkage prevention cannot be attained, while if the amount is more than 200 parts by weight, the resulting tape is poor in self-adhesiveness. Accordingly, the filler therefor should be used in an amount within the range of 50 200 parts by weight.

As vulcanizing agents usable in the present invention, there are (1) a combination of sulfur with such a vulcanizing accelerator as mercaptobenzothiazole, dimercaptobenzothiazole or tetramethylthiuram monosulfide, (2) a peroxide such as dicumyl peroxide or t-butyl peroxide, (3) p-quinone dioxime or p,p'- benzoyl quinone dioxime, (4) a combination of a resin type vulcanizing agent, e.g., a phenol resin type bromomethyl phenol-aldehyde resin, with stannic chloride, and (5) a combination of two or more of said (1) to (4). The most preferable results are obtained when the amount of the vulcanizing agent blended per 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer is 0.1 3 parts by weight of sulfur and 0.5 3.5 parts by weight of the vulcanization accelerator in the case of said (1), 2 4 parts by weight of the peroxide in the case of (2), 3 7 parts by weight of the dioxime in the case of (3) and 7 12 parts by weight of the resin type vulcanizing agent and 3 7 parts by weight of stannic chloride in the case of (4). In every case, however, if the amount of the vulcanizing agent blended is less than 1 part by weight, the vulcanization becomes insufticientand the mechanical properties of the resulting composition are deteriorated, while if the amount is more than parts by weight, the electrical properties, thermal resistance and the like characteristics of the resulting composition and undesirably injured. Further, if the peroxide of (2) is used as the vulcanizing agent where an ethylene-propylene copolymer is used as the a-olefin polymer, even the ethylene-propylene copolymer is vulcanized with the result that the self-adhesiveness of the resulting composition comes to be injured. Accordingly, the peroxide of (2) is not usable as vulcanizing agent when an ethylene-propylene copolymer is used.

5 Further, a metal oxide such as ZnO, PbO, Pb O MgO or CdO may be used in every case as a vulcanization adjuvant in an amount of 2 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, whereby the vulcanization of the composition can be promoted. If necessary, it is, of course, not objectionable to use in combination small amounts of an antioxidant, a pigment such as carbon black, and a softener such as paraffinic process oil.

The composition of the present invention is obtained by mixing the above-mentioned components, except the vulcanizing agent, by means of, for example, a Banbury mixer at 150 180C. for 10 15 minutes, adding the vulcanizing agent to the resulting mixture and then kneading the resulting mixture at C. for about 5 minutes. The thus obtained composition of the present invention is rolled into a sheet by means of, for example, a calender roll for rubber. The sheet is rolled up on a cylinder while interposing a separator and then vulcanized by heating at a temperature of to C. for a period of 15 to 20 minutes. Subsequently, the vulcanized sheet is cut to a given width to obtain a self-adhesive insulating tape. If necessary, it is, of course, not objectionable that the composition is shaped into a thick sheet by means of a calender roll and then cut to a strip having a rectangular or triangular cross-section so as to be suitable for application.

The present invention is illustrated in further detail below with reference to examples.

Examples 1 to 13 The components set forth in each Example in Table l were mixed together according to an ordinary procedure by means of a Banbury mixer to obtain a composition. The thus obtained composition was shaped by means of a calender roll'into a sheet having a thickness of 0.5 1 mm. The sheet was wound up in the form of a roll while interposing a separator, and a vulcanized rubber tape was wound around the outer periphery of the rolled sheet so that the sheet was not unrolled. Thereafter, the rolled sheet was placed in a vulcanizer and vulcanized by heating at 142C. for 15 minutes. The characteristics of self-adhesive insulating tapes obtained in the above manner were as shown in Table 2.

TAB LE 1 [All the numeralsin the table are parts by weight] Example 1 liutyl rubber molecular lolyisobutylene (average weight 100,000) lnlyisnhntyleue (average weight2.00()) YSrcsiu oil I) 40 Cmimawne-imleue resin (average moleeular weight (300) hnmllite resin 1' lt 228m) 21) lit 2O 20 40 10 i0 20 20 .20 20 20 2O 10 40 20 'lltA 3.5 3.5 2.5

a sharp razor and the state of the cross section thereof was observed. If the tape had been completely adhered and no interface between turns of the tape had been recognized at all, the tape was evaluated as being excel- The tensile strength retention after heating, the elongation retention after heating and the ozone resistance in Table were measured in the following manner:

Tensile strength retention after heating and elongation lent in self-adhesiveness, while if interfaces between 5 retention after heating:

turns had been recognized though the turns had been A sample was heated in a Geer oven at 120C. for 7 adhered, the tape was evaluated as being favorable in days and then subjected to measurements of tensile self-adhesiveness. strength and elongation.

Separately, the tape of Example 1 and that of Com- Ozone resistance: parative Example were cut to strips, which were then A m l was stretched to 100 percent and allowed subjected to degradation by means of a weather-ometo stand for hours. Thereafter, the sample was alter. Thereafter, the tracking resistance of said tapes lowed to stand in a 0.044 vol. percent ozone at- Wa e e CC d g t0 the IEC-DIN modified mosphere at room temperature, and the time required method to Obtain results as Shown in Table for formation of visible cracks was regarded as the ozone resistance. The IEC-DlN modified method and the self-adhesiveness evaluation were the same as in TABLE 3 Table 2'.

As is clear from the above Examples, self-adhesive D f 20 tapes prepared from the present compositions have exfgg g cellent elongation, thermal resistance, ozone resistance l0 ddays 20 days 30 days and electrical properties. Further, the present composiggmgf Example 8:2? 8:3 81;}, tions are favorable in tackiness and plasticity, and (The numerals show the depths of corrosion.) hence can also be used as fillers between cores of multicore cables.

In addition to usefor forming insulating layers for Examples 14 to 18 electric wires and cables, the self-adhesive tapes The components set forth in Table 4 were treated in Shaped from the Pmsent compositions are usable the same manner as in Examples 1 13 to prepare selfthe formation for x p corrosion resistant adhesive insulating tapes, which were then subjected to layers metalsmeasurement of characteristics to obtain results as We Claimi shown in Table 5. 1. A self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape prepared from the composition comprising:

A. 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-propylene- TABLE 4 diene terpolymer which is composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylenezpropylene molar ratio of 80:20 to 20:80 and a diene component in x. Ex. Ex. Ex.Ex. 14 15 16 1317 an amount of 0.5 to 10 mole percent based on the Egg g O l 100 100 100 100100 total amount of ethylene and propylene and which flf fg," Pym 50 75 100 50,25 40 has a Mooney viscosity ML 100C.) of 20 to Polyisobutylene 120, sz' im f 'gfgggg 50 B. 50 to 150 parts by weight of an a-olefin polymer Polyisobutylene selected from the group consisting of ethyleneffgzm igggf a 0+ propylene copolymers which are composed of YS Resin Oil D 20 20 2o 20 ethylene and propylene in an ethylenezpropylene g f 100 100m) molar ratio of 60:40 to 40:80 and which have a arafi'inlc process n 10 Mooney viscosity (ML 100C.) of 20 120 and gp 'gg ziz g g polyisobutylenes having an average molecular M L5 L5 15 51.5 weight Of t0 1 BX 2.0 C. 10 to 80 parts by weight of a tackifier selected :52 3:? 31%? from the group consisting of polyisobutylenes having an average molecular weight of 300 to 10,000, terpene resins having an average molecular weight The ethylene-propylene copolymer in Table 4 had an of 300 to 3,000, coumarone-indene resins having ethylenezpropylene molar ratio of :40 50:50 and a 55 an average molecular weight of 400 to 1,200 and Mooney viscosity (ML 100C.) of 4S. novolak type phenol resins having an average Other abbreviations are the same as in Table 1. molecular weight of 200 to 1,300,

TABLE 5 Example 14 Example 15 Example 16 Example 17 Example 18 22352 13:

Dielectric constant 2. E) 2. 8 19 2 7 0 3' 8 Dielectric losstangcnt (percent). 1. 1. 05 1. 00 0. 00 1. 15 1, 45 iiiiii ifoiffi v iia go ii iiiiiiriiiiii 5; ii Hxlmf 35 fi 2' IEC- T)IN modified method (mn 0.03 0.05 0.06 0.06 0.0!) 0.13 Tensile strength retention Ztlt(.f ll(!1tl,1lll.{ (p 11.) J5 08 {)0 g g Elongation retention after heating (percent) 83 81 30 7g 60 Ozone res stance (hrs.) 64 64 64 4 4 12 Scll-adhcsivuncss Exccllun Excellent Excellent, E ll t E n Excellent D. 50 to 200 parts by weight of an inorganic filler having an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 50p, and

' E. 1 to 20 parts by weight of a vulcanizing agent capable of vulcanizing only the ethylenepropylene-diene terpolymer in this composition, in

which tape only component (A) has been vulcanized.

2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the a-olefln polymer (B) is an ethylene-propylene copolymer which is composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylene:propylene molar ratio of 60:40 to 40:60 and which has a Mooney viscosity of 20 to 120.

3. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the a-olefin polymer (B) is a polyisobutylene having an average molecular weight of 50,000 to 110,000.

4. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the tackifier is a polyisobutylene having an average molecular weight of 300 to 10,000 or a terpene resin having an average molecular weight of 300 to 3,000 and the amount thereof contained in the composition is 30 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the terpolymer.

5. A composition according to claim 4, which is in the form of a tape.

6. A self-adhesive insulating composition compris- A. 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-propylenediene terpolymer which is composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylenezpropylene molar ratio of 40:60 to 80:20 and a diene component in an amount of 0.5 10 mole percent based on the total amount of ethylene and propylene and which has a Mooney viscosity (ML 100C.) of 20 ,120,

B. 90 110 parts by weight of an a-olefin polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylenepropylene copolymers which are composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylenezpropylene molar ratio of 60:40 to 40:60 and which have a Mooney viscosity (ML 100C.) of 20 120 and polyisobutylene having an average molecular weight of 50,000 110,000,

C. 30 50 parts by weight of a tackifier selected from the group consisting of polyisobutylenes having an average molecular weight of 300 10,000 and terpene resins having an average molecular weight of 300 3,000,

D. 50 200 parts by weight of an inorganic filler having an average particle diameter of 0.5 50 1., and

E. l- 20 parts by weight of a vulcanizing agent capable of vulcanizing only the ethylene-propylenediene terpolymer in this composition.

7. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein said a-olefin polymer is an ethylene-propylene copolymer which is composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylenezpropylene molar ratio of 60:40 to 40:60 and which has a Mooney viscosity (ML .,l00C) of 20-120 and said vulcanizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfur and a vulcanizing accelerator, pquinone dioxime, p-benzoyl quinone dioxime, a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent and stannic chloride, and combinations thereof.

8. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 7, wherein said vulcanizing accelerator is selected from the group consisting of mercaptobenzothiazole, dimercaptobenzothiazole, and tetramethylthiuram monosulfide.

9. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 3, wherein said vulcanizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfur and a vulcanizing accelerator, p-q'uinone dioxime, pbenzoyl quinone dioxime,- a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent and stannic chloride, a peroxide and combinations thereof.

10. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 9, wherein said peroxide is selected from the group consisting of dicumyl peroxide or t-butyl peroxide.

11. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein said vulcanizing agent is a combinationof sulfur with a vulcanizing accelerator in an amount of 0.1-3 parts by weight 'of sulfur and 0.5-3.5 parts by weight of said vulcanization accelerator, based on parts by weight of said ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.

12. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape accordingto claim 1, wherein said vulcaniz ing agent is selected from'the group consisting of pquinone dioxime and p,p'-benzoyl quinone dioxime and the amount of said vulcanizing agent is 3-7 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the ethylenepropylene-diene terpolymer.

13. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein said vulcanizing agent is a combination of a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent with stannic chloride and said vulcanizing agent is used in an amount of 7-12 parts by weight of said resin type vulcanizing agent and 3-7 parts by weight of said stannic chloride.

14. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 13, wherein said resin type vulcanizing agent is a phenol resin type bromornethyl phenol-aldehyde resin.

15. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein said vulcanizing agent is a peroxide and said a-olefin polymer is a polyisobutylene having a average molecular weight of 50,000 to 110,000, said peroxide being used in an amount of 2-4 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.

16. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein a metal oxide in an amount of 2-20 parts weight per 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer is used as a vulcanization adjuvant.

17. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 16, wherein said metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of ZnO, PbO, Pb O MgO, and CdO.

18. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein an antioxidant is present.

19. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein a pigment is present.

20. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein a softener is present.

21. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said a-olefin polymer is an ethylene-propylene copolymer which is composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylenezpropylene molar ratio of 60:40 to 40:60 and which was a Mooney viscosity (ML 100C) of -120 and said vulcanizing agent isselected from the group consisting of sulfur and a vulcanizing accelerator, p-quinone dioxime, p'-' benzoyl quinone dioxime, a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent and stannic chloride, and combinations thereof.

22. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 21, wherein said vulcanizing accelerator is selected from the group consisting of mercaptobenzothiazole, dimercaptobenzothiazole, and tetramethylthiraum monosulfide.

23. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said a-olefin is the polyisobutylene and said vulcanizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfur and a vulcanizing accelerator, p-quinone dioxime, p'-benzoyl quinone dioxime, a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent and stannic chloride, a peroxide and combinations thereof.

24. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 23, wherein said peroxide is selected from the group consisting of dicumyl peroxide and t-butyl peroxide.

25. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said vulcanizing agentis a combination of sulfur with a vulcanizing accelerator in an amount of 0.1-3 parts by weight of sulfur and 0.5-3.5 parts by weight of said vulcanization accelerator, based on 100 parts by weight of said ethylene-propylenediene terpolymer.

26. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said vulcanizing agent is selected from the group consisting of p-quinone dioxime and p,p'-benzoyl quinone dioxime and the amount of said vulcanizing agent is 3.7 parts by weight based on parts by weight of the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.

27. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said vulcanizing agent is combination of a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent with stannic chloride and said vulcanizing agent is used in an amount of 7-12 parts by weight of said resin type vulcanizing agent and 3-7 parts by weight of said stannic chloride.

28. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 27, wherein said resin type vulcanizing agent is a phenol resin type bromomethyl phenol-aldehyde resin.

29. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said vulcanizing agent is a peroxide and said a-olefin polymer is a polyisobutylene having an average molecular weight of 50,000 to 1 10,000 said peroxide being used in an amount of 2-4 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of ethylene-propylene-diene-terpolymer.

30. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein a metal oxide inan amount of 2-20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer is used as a vulcanization adjuvant. I

31. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 30, wherein said metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of ZnO, PbO, Pb O MgO,

and CdO. Y

32. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein an antioxidant is present.

33. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein a pigment is used.

34. The selfadhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein a softener is used.

' i =1 l V 

2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the Alpha -olefin polymer (B) is an ethylene-propylene copolymer which is composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylene:propylene molar ratio of 60:40 to 40:60 and which has a Mooney viscosity of 20 to
 120. 3. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the Alpha -olefin polymer (B) is a polyisobutylene having an average molecular weight of 50,000 to 110,000.
 4. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the tackifier is a polyisobutylene having an average molecular weight of 300 to 10,000 or a terpene resin having an average molecular weight of 300 to 3,000 and the amount thereof contained in the composition is 30 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the terpolymer.
 5. A composition according to claim 4, which is in the form of a tape.
 6. A self-adhesive insulating composition comprising: A. 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer which is composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylene: propylene molar ratio of 40:60 to 80:20 and a diene component in an amount of 0.5 - 10 mole percent based on the total amount of ethylene and propylene and which has a Mooney viscosity (ML1 4, 100*C.) of 20 - 120, B. 90 - 110 parts by weight of an Alpha -olefin polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene copolymers which are composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylene:propylene molar ratio of 60:40 to 40:60 and which have a Mooney viscosity (ML1 4, 100*C.) of 20 - 120 and polyisobutylene having an average molecular weight of 50,000 -110,000, C. 30 - 50 parts by weight of a tackifier selected from the group consisting of polyisobutylenes having an average molecular weight of 300 - 10,000 and terpene resins having an average molecular weight of 300 - 3,000, D. 50 - 200 parts by weight of an inorganic filler having an average particle diameter of 0.5 - 50 Mu , and E. 1 - 20 parts by weight of a vulcanizing agent capable of vulcanizing only the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer in this composition.
 7. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein said Alpha -olefin polymer is an ethylene-propylene copolymer which is composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylene:propylene molar ratio of 60:40 to 40:60 and which has a Mooney viscosity (ML1 4100*C) of 20-120 and said vulcanizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfur and a vulcanizing accelerator, p-quinone dioxime, p''-benzoyl quinone dioxime, a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent and stannic chloride, and combinations thereof.
 8. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 7, wherein said vulcanizing accelerator is selected from the group consisting of mercaptobenzothiazole, dimercaptobenzothiazole, and tetramethylthiuram monosulfide.
 9. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 3, wherein said vulcanizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfur and a vulcanizing accelerator, p-quinone dioxime, p''-benzoyl quinone dioxime, a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent and stannic chloride, a peroxide and combinations thereof.
 10. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 9, wherein said peroxide is selected from the group consisting of dicumyl peroxide or t-butyl peroxide.
 11. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein said vulcanizing agent is a combination of sulfur with a vulcanizing accelerator in an amount of 0.1-3 parts by weight of sulfur and 0.5-3.5 parts by weight of said vulcanization accelerator, based on 100 parts by weight of said ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.
 12. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein said vulcanizing agent is selected from the group consisting of p-quinone dioxime and p,p''-benzoyl quinone dioxime and the amount of said vulcanizing agent is 3-7 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.
 13. THe self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein said vulcanizing agent is a combination of a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent with stannic chloride and said vulcanizing agent is used in an amount of 7-12 parts by weight of said resin type vulcanizing agent and 3-7 parts by weight of said stannic chloride.
 14. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 13, wherein said resin type vulcanizing agent is a phenol resin type bromomethyl phenol-aldehyde resin.
 15. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein said vulcanizing agent is a peroxide and said Alpha -olefin polymer is a polyisobutylene having a average molecular weight of 50,000 to 110,000, said peroxide being used in an amount of 2-4 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.
 16. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein a metal oxide in an amount of 2-20 parts weight per 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer is used as a vulcanization adjuvant.
 17. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 16, wherein said metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of ZnO, PbO, Pb3O4, MgO, and CdO.
 18. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein an antioxidant is present.
 19. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein a pigment is present.
 20. The self-adhesive and self-fusing electrical insulating tape according to claim 1, wherein a softener is present.
 21. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said Alpha -olefin polymer is an ethylene-propylene copolymer which is composed of ethylene and propylene in an ethylene:propylene molar ratio of 60:40 to 40:60 and which was a Mooney viscosity (ML1 14, 100*C) of 20-120 and said vulcanizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfur and a vulcanizing accelerator, p-quinone dioxime, p''-benzoyl quinone dioxime, a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent and stannic chloride, and combinations thereof.
 22. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 21, wherein said vulcanizing accelerator is selected from the group consisting of mercaptobenzothiazole, dimercaptobenzothiazole, and tetramethylthiraum monosulfide.
 23. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said Alpha -olefin is the polyisobutylene and said vulcanizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfur and a vulcanizing accelerator, p-quinone dioxime, p''-benzoyl quinone dioxime, a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent and stannic chloride, a peroxide and combinations thereof.
 24. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 23, wherein said peroxide is selected from the group consisting of dicumyl peroxide and t-butyl peroxide.
 25. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said vulcanizing agent is a combination of sulfur with a vulcanizing accelerator in an amount of 0.1-3 parts by weight of sulfur and 0.5-3.5 parts by weight of said vulcanization accelerator, based on 100 parts by weight of said ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.
 26. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said vulcanizing agent is selected from the group consisting of p-quinone dioxime and p,p''-benzoyl quinone dioxime and the amount of said vulcanizing agent is 3.7 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.
 27. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said vulcanizing agent is combination of a phenolic resin type vulcanizing agent with sTannic chloride and said vulcanizing agent is used in an amount of 7-12 parts by weight of said resin type vulcanizing agent and 3-7 parts by weight of said stannic chloride.
 28. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 27, wherein said resin type vulcanizing agent is a phenol resin type bromomethyl phenol-aldehyde resin.
 29. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein said vulcanizing agent is a peroxide and said Alpha -olefin polymer is a polyisobutylene having an average molecular weight of 50,000 to 110,000 said peroxide being used in an amount of 2-4 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of ethylene-propylene-diene-terpolymer.
 30. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein a metal oxide in an amount of 2-20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer is used as a vulcanization adjuvant.
 31. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 30, wherein said metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of ZnO, PbO, Pb3O4, MgO, and CdO.
 32. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein an antioxidant is present.
 33. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein a pigment is used.
 34. The self-adhesive insulating composition according to claim 6, wherein a softener is used. 